The lights dim in the auditorium, illuminating an area of the stage to reveal someone sitting before the piano. The candy apple red dress and flats that adorn her body match perfectly the prominent hues of the four letters “TEDx” of the TEDxHarkerSchool sign sitting at the verge of the stage of the Nichols auditorium to her left and the carpet positioned on the floor. Behind her, the projector displays the title of her TEDx talk “The Power of Music,” her name, “Umi Garrett,” and a photo of her in midst of another performance, with a facial expression uncannily similar to the one she wears now.

As the chatter of the audience silences, Umi delicately lays her fingers on the grand piano without actually pressing any of the keys. There seems to be a quiet yet nervous tension in the air, with the audience eagerly yearning to hear yet apprehensive on what comes next. In a split second, she takes a deep breath, lifts her arms up and then back down as if to signify the start of her piece, this time giving just enough force to create a soft harmony. The first few notes come out quietly, until the crescendo and the tempo of the music pick up and the sweet sound of the piano permeates the room. I recognize the piece instantly: it’s Rachmaninoff’s “Liebesleid.” Originally a violin piece composed by Kreisler, Rachmaninoff transposed the melody and added harmony to suit the tones of the piano. Immediately, goosebumps crawl up the length of my arms: I had heard this piece numerous times, however, the way she accented certain notes transformed the music entirely. The intensely rich sounds of the piano that rang through my ears demonstrated an ability and pattern Umi possessed that I never succeeded in achieving and in my opinion, only a few pianists had.

After the final notes of the piece ended in a harmonic closure, the audience’s claps follow. Umi stands up, bows, picks up the clicker and distances her away from the piano, where she starts talking again.

Almost exactly a year later, I sit at the piano quite often, practicing this exact song. Her performance inspired me to pursue this piece and rekindled a determination inside of that was almost gone. Every time I hear this song when I’m practicing, I remember the passion and that spark she had when she played “Liebesleid,” the kind that causes goosebumps. However, instead of Umi sitting at the piano, it’s me, hoping to bring the same feeling to whomever is listening to me play.